Clinical Guidelines

The American Academy of Pain Medicine develops clinical practice guidelines for use in the treatment of pain.

AAPM guidelines are intended as educational tools for healthcare providers and are based on clinical expertise and a review of the relevant literature by diverse groups of highly trained clinicians.

Clinical Guidelines: Consensus on the Best Practices in Pain Medicine

General Pain Practice

1. Pain Management Best Practices From Multispecialty Organizations During The COVID-19 Pandemic And Public Health Crises

2. The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Report

The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force was established to propose updates to best practices and issue recommendations that address gaps or inconsistencies for managing chronic and acute pain.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services oversaw this effort with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense.

The Final Report on Best Practices: Updates, Gaps, Inconsistencies and Recommendations

3. Interventional Spine and Pain Procedures in Patients on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications

Guidelines from AAPM, the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, the International Neuromodulation Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the World Institute of Pain.

Interventional Spine And Pain Procedures In Patients On Antiplatelet And Anticoagulant Medications (Second Edition)

Diagnostic Criteria

4. Goebel, A., et al., The Valencia consensus-based adaptation of the IASP complex regional pain syndrome diagnostic criteria. Pain, 2021. 162(9): p. 2346-2348.

5. Nicholas, M., et al., The IASP classification of chronic pain for ICD-11: chronic primary pain. Pain, 2019. 160(1): p. 28-37.

6. Treede, R.D., et al., Chronic pain as a symptom or a disease: the IASP Classification of Chronic Pain for the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Pain, 2019. 160(1): p. 19-27.

Acute and Perioperative Pain

7. Consensus Guidelines on the Use of Intravenous Ketamine Infusions for Acute Pain Management

8. Shah, S., et al., ASRA Pain Medicine consensus guidelines on the management of the perioperative patient on cannabis and cannabinoids. Reg Anesth Pain Med, 2023. 48(3): p. 97-117.

Spine

9. Cohen, S.P., et al., Consensus practice guidelines on interventions for lumbar facet joint pain from a multispecialty, international working group. Reg Anesth Pain Med, 2020. 45(6): p. 424-467.

10. George, S.Z., et al., Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther, 2021. 51(11): p. Cpg1-cpg60.

11. Hurley, R.W., et al., Consensus practice guidelines on interventions for cervical spine (facet) joint pain from a multispecialty international working group. Pain Med, 2021. 22(11): p. 2443-2524.

12. Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines For Multidisciplinary Spine Care

Neuropathic Pain

13. Bruce, R.D., et al., 2017 HIVMA of IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Chronic Pain in Patients Living With HIV. Clin Infect Dis, 2017. 65(10): p. e1-e37.

14. Harden, R.N., et al., Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Practical Diagnostic and Treatment Guidelines, 5th Edition. Pain Med, 2022. 23(Suppl 1): p. S1-s53.

15. Price, R., et al., Oral and Topical Treatment of Painful Diabetic Polyneuropathy: Practice Guideline Update Summary: Report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology, 2022. 98(1): p. 31-43.

Headache and Facial Pain

16. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia, 2018. 38(1): p. 1-211.

17. Ailani, J., R.C. Burch, and M.S. Robbins, The American Headache Society Consensus Statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache, 2021. 61(7): p. 1021-1039.

18. Barad, M., et al., Percutaneous Interventional Strategies for Migraine Prevention: A Systematic Review and Practice Guideline. Pain Med, 2022. 23(1): p. 164-188.

19. Bendtsen, L., et al., European Academy of Neurology guideline on trigeminal neuralgia. Eur J Neurol, 2019. 26(6): p. 831-849.

20. Robbins, M.S., et al., Treatment of Cluster Headache: The American Headache Society Evidence-Based Guidelines. Headache, 2016. 56(7): p. 1093-106.

21. Silberstein, S.D., et al., Evidence-based guideline update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Neurology, 2012. 78(17): p. 1337-45.

22. Uppal, V., et al., Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on postdural puncture headache: a consensus report from a multisociety international working group. Reg Anesth Pain Med, 2023.

Neuromodulation

23. Deer, T.R., et al., The Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC)®: Intrathecal Drug Delivery Guidance on Safety and Therapy Optimization When Treating Chronic Noncancer Pain. Neuromodulation, 2024.

24. Deer, T.R., et al., The Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC): Recommendations for Trialing of Intrathecal Drug Delivery Infusion Therapy. Neuromodulation, 2017. 20(2): p. 133-154.

25. Deer, T.R., et al., The Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC): Recommendations on Intrathecal Drug Infusion Systems Best Practices and Guidelines. Neuromodulation, 2017. 20(2): p. 96-132.

26. Deer, T.R., et al., The Neurostimulation Appropriateness Consensus Committee (NACC) Recommendations for Infection Prevention and Management. Neuromodulation, 2017. 20(1): p. 31-50.

27. Deer, T.R., et al., The Neurostimulation Appropriateness Consensus Committee (NACC): Recommendations for Surgical Technique for Spinal Cord Stimulation. Neuromodulation, 2022. 25(1): p. 1-34.

28. Shanthanna, H., et al., Evidence-based consensus guidelines on patient selection and trial stimulation for spinal cord stimulation therapy for chronic non-cancer pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med, 2023. 48(6): p. 273-287.

Opioid Prescribing

29. Argoff, C.E., et al., Rational Urine Drug Monitoring in Patients Receiving Opioids for Chronic Pain: Consensus Recommendations. Pain Med, 2018. 19(1): p. 97-117.

30. Dowell, D., et al., CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain – United States, 2022. MMWR Recomm Rep, 2022. 71(3): p. 1-95.

31. Jannetto, P.J., et al., Executive Summary: American Association of Clinical Chemistry Laboratory Medicine Practice Guideline-Using Clinical Laboratory Tests to Monitor Drug Therapy in Pain Management Patients. J Appl Lab Med, 2018. 2(4): p. 489-526.

32. Kroenke, K., et al., Challenges with Implementing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Opioid Guideline: A Consensus Panel Report. Pain Med, 2019. 20(4): p. 724-735.

References

1. force, I.T., PAIN MANAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE REPORT.

2. Cohen, S.P., et al., Pain Management Best Practices from Multispecialty Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health Crises. Pain Med, 2020. 21(7): p. 1331-1346.

3. Narouze, S., et al., Interventional Spine and Pain Procedures in Patients on Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications (Second Edition): Guidelines From the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the International Neuromodulation Society, the North American Neuromodulation Society, and the World Institute of Pain. Reg Anesth Pain Med, 2018. 43(3): p. 225-262.